Cylinder block for engine

Abstract

A cylinder block that can be used commonly in a longitudinally mounted engine and a transversely mounted engine without increasing a manufacturing cost. The cylinder block comprises an attachment flange joined to a transmission or a transaxle, and an oil pan or the oil pan and a ladder frame are attached to a lower end thereof. The attachment flange comprises: a first flange formed on an outer periphery thereof; a first joint surface formed on the first flange to be joined to a matching surface of the transmission; a second flange extending in the inner side of the first flange; and a second joint surface formed on the second flange to be joined to a matching surface of the transaxle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cylinder block for a vehicular engine, comprising:
 an attachment flange that is configured to be joined to:
 a transmission that is arranged such that an input shaft of the transmission is aligned with a crankshaft of the engine to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, or 
 a transaxle that is arranged such that an input shaft of the transaxle is aligned with the crankshaft of the engine to extend in a transverse direction of the vehicle; 
 
 wherein 
 an oil pan or the oil pan and a ladder frame are attached to a lower end of the cylinder block in a vertical direction, 
 the attachment flange comprises:
 a first flange that is formed on a part of an outer periphery of the attachment flange including the lower end of the cylinder block; 
 a first joint surface that is formed on the first flange, wherein when the cylinder block is joined to the transmission, the first joint surface is joined to a matching surface of the transmission opposed to the engine to be combined therewith; 
 a branching section as a boundary between the attachment flange and the first flange in the outer periphery of the attachment flange; 
 a second flange that branches off from the outer periphery that is closer to the attachment flange than the branching section to extend in an inner side of the first flange; 
 a second joint surface that is formed on the second flange, wherein when the cylinder block is joined to the transaxle, the second joint surface is joined to a matching surface of the transaxle opposed to the engine to be combined therewith, 
 a first rib that is formed integrally with the first joint surface of the first flange; and 
 a second rib that is formed integrally with the second joint surface of the second flange, 
 
 the first rib is connected to a rib for longitudinal arrangement formed along
 a matching surface of the oil pan that is joined to the matching surface of the transmission, or 
 a matching surface of the ladder frame that is joined to the matching surface of the transmission, and 
 
 the second rib is connected to a rib for transverse arrangement formed along
 the matching surface of the oil pan that is joined to the matching surface of the transaxle, or 
 the matching surface of the ladder frame that is joined to the matching surface of the transaxle. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The cylinder block as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the attachment flange comprises a boss in which a bolt hole or a screw hole is formed to fix the attachment flange to the transmission or the transaxle, 
 the boss is formed in the outer periphery of the attachment flange at a site closer to the attachment flange than the branching section, 
 another boss for longitudinal arrangement is formed integrally with the rib for longitudinal arrangement formed along any of the matching surfaces of the oil pan and the ladder frame, 
 a bolt hole or a screw hole is formed in the another boss for longitudinal arrangement, 
 still another boss for transverse arrangement is formed integrally with the rib for transverse arrangement formed along any of the matching surfaces of the oil pan and the ladder frame, 
 a bolt hole or screw hole is formed in the still another boss for transverse arrangement, and 
 the boss is connected to the another boss for longitudinal arrangement through the outer periphery, the first rib, and the rib for longitudinal arrangement, and to the still another boss for transverse arrangement through the outer periphery, the second rib, and the rib for transverse arrangement. 
 
     
     
       3. The cylinder block as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cylinder block is joined to the transaxle without having the first flange extending from the branching section toward the lower end. 
     
     
       4. The cylinder block as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cylinder block is joined to the transmission. 
     
     
       5. The cylinder block as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder block is joined to the transaxle without having the first flange extending from the branching section toward the lower end. 
     
     
       6. The cylinder block as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder block is joined to the transmission.